Does your vote count? The Marlboro K-8 School District Board of Education thinks not. A number of years ago our school board along with (then) Superintendent of Schools David Abbott wanted to build another elementary school during the banking crisis even though there was no building going on in the township.
Today, had the school been built, we would have one empty school building.
In 2015 and 2016 they proposed a referendum to repair our schools and for full-time kindergarten. Part of the proposal was to add 28 classrooms to the early learning center.
However, when the referendum was turned down they were able to find room in our other schools and only spend $1.8 million to give the township full-time kindergarten.
This time the school board is holding a special vote on Sept. 26 which will be paid for by our tax money. It is their hope that only people who want to vote yes will show up and they can get this money approved.
I am not for or against this proposal. I do know that the population of this town has not grown in the past two years.
I am upset they are looking to manipulate our vote to get the outcome they want. I am upset they are spending our money to do this. They did not wait until November to have this vote because they think a larger turnout will mean defeat again for the third time.
Please remember to vote for or against this referendum on Sept. 26 or get an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk no later than seven days before the election.
We need to send a message to the school board that we the voters decide how our money is spent and if the school board does not know that then it is time to get a new school board.
Ed Russin
Marlboro